Etjsible link



C. W. KERSTETER.

FUSIBLE LINK.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4. I915.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

i UFFTQEQ CHARLES W. KERS'IETER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN;

FUSIBLE LINK.

messes.

Application filed November 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. KER- s'rnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Milwaukee, in the county of M11- waukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fusible Links for Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the construction of a fusible link adapted for use in any of the various situations or relations in which such links are used and with which uses those skilled in the art are perfectly familiar and the object of the invention is to provide a link of high efliciency as to both its holding and releasing functions. The two essentials of a link or equivalent device of this character are, first that the parts shall unfailingly be held in place during normal conditions of temperature and secondly that just as unfailingly they shall be caused to separate and fall asunder when subjected to an abnormal temperature.

To these ends the invention consists in the features of novelty that are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is made a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is an axial section of a sprinkler head having a link embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the improved links with its parts assembled. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of the improved link, disassembled. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a strut-member of a sprinkler head embodying the invention.

The nozzle or the open discharge end of the distributing pipe or a branch of it is shown at 1. In the vicinity of its outer or discharge end it is externally screw threaded for connection with the next adjacent mem ber or section of the distributing pipe and has a hexagonal, heptagonal, or other noncircular enlargement, 2, for receiving a wrench. Integral with this non-circular enlargement is the customary yoke, 3, to the outer portion of which'is attached, by any suitable means the distributor, 4. The cap or valve is shown at 5, and may be of any desired construction, so far as the present invention is concerned, but preferably is of such construct-ion that it offers an elastic resistance to the pressure of the levers. To this end the cap is preferably made of two saucer-shaped disks, which are arranged Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 59,607.

with their concave surfaces toward each other, the marginal flange of the upper disk, 5, being of slightly less diameter than the marginal flange of the lower disk, 5 so that the former fits within the latter and the latter may be spun inward for the purpose of holding the two disks together.

The lower ends of the levers, 6, engage depressions in the topside of the cap and hold the cap seated in the same general way as is common to a type of sprinkler head that has been in use for a number of years. That is to say the levers, 6, have near their lower ends, shoulders, 7, upon which bear the lower ends of an inverted V-shaped strut, 8, the upper end of which bears in a notch in the lower end of a rivet by which the de flector, 4, is attached to the yoke 3. These levers are connected near their upper ends by the improved link, 10, in such manner that their upper ends are prevented from moving away from each other so long as the link remains intact.

The lower diverging ends of the strut, 8, are provided with notches, 8, which admit the adjacent parts of the levers, 6, and cause each of the lower diverging ends of the strut to straddle the lever which it engages so thatlateral displacement of the strut is prevented.

Thus far I have described nothing new with the exception of the one-piece, V- shaped formation of the strut, 8. Heretofore two separate strut-members, each corresponding substantially with one-half 0f the inverted V-shaped strut, 8, shown in the drawing, have been used. But a serious disadvantage in the use of two separate strut-members is that they easily get out of alinement in assembling the parts and when they do they produce unequal strains' Hence it is that I prefer to use an integral strut of substantially inverted V-shape.

The principal features of novelty of the present invention reside in the construction of the link, 10, now to be described. Like most links of the type to which the present invention belongs, its principal elements are two overlapping plates, 11, of identical construction arranged reversely, face to face, so that similar features of the two plates when assembled will be at opposite ends of the link. That is to say, in order to be more explicit, each plate has at one side of its transverse center, and near its end a perforation, 12, and on the other side of said center and extending quite to its end an open slot, 13, and the plates are assembled with the perforation of one opposite the inner end of the slot of the other. Each plate has at its center a transversely disposed right angular outward deflection, 14, which results in a 90 degree groove, in its inner face which grooves, when the plates are placed together, face to face, form a.

square socket extending transversely of the link. In this socket is contained a square rocker, 15, which fits it and is hollow for the better circulation of air. It carries spurs, 16, which project in opposite directions from its opposite corners and each of these spurs preferably consists of a pin which passes through the rocker from corner to corner so that its ends project and form the spurs. The spurs occupy notches, 17, formed through the deflected portions, 1 1, of the plates, 11. These notches are in opposite sides of the deflected portions of the plates so that as the plates are moved in opposite directions endwise relatively to each other one will bear against one of the spurs in one direction and the other will bear against the other spur in the opposite direction, thus tending to rock or roll the rocker.

It will be understood that the meeting surfaces of the plates, 11, and rocker, 15, are united by a thin film of solder fusible 'at a predetermined temperature, and the slots or openings, 17, also are filled with such solder, so that there is no possibility for the rocker or its spurs to more before the solder is fused.

The slots, 17 are formed in the advance sloping sides of the deflected portions, 14., of the plates, 12. By this is meant the sides which are in advance as the plates move endwise relatively to each other after the solder joint fuses. The spurs 16, will engage the rear sides of said deflected portions and tend to prevent the creeping of the plates upon each other until the solder joint is fused. 'When this latter takes place the pressure of the rear sides of the deflected portions of the plates upon the spurs, 16,

will tend to rock or rotate the rocker, l5, and this in turn will have a tendency to force the two plates, 12, asunder in directions which are transverse to their planes. It will be a disadvantage to have the link contact with the yoke because the yoke will then absorb heat from the link and thereby lessen its sensitiveness. To avoid this the levers, 6, are provided with shoulders, 18, which engage the underside of the lower plate of the link and prevent the link from contacting with the yoke or any part carried thereby.

In assembling the parts, the levers, 6, are placed with their lower ends in engagement with the cap, 5; the strut 8 is then interposed between the shoulders, 7, and the rivet, 9, the upper ends of the lovers 6, are then pressed toward each other, their approach being permitted by their own elasticity and the elasticity of the top plate, 5", of the cap. The upper ends of the levers are then passed through the perforations, 12 and slots, 13, of the link and the latter brought to a bearing upon the shoulders, 18.

hat I claim as new is 1. A link for automatic fire extinguish ing apparatus, having incombination, a pair of similar plates, having at points intermediate of their length deflected portions which fall opposite each other and form a socket disposed transversely of the link, a rocker occupying said socket and having diametrically disposed, projecting spurs engaging the deflected portions of the plates respectively at diametrically opposite sides of the socket formed by said deflected portions, said deflected portions having notches into which said spurs pro ect.

2. A link for sprinkler heads having in combination a pair of similar plates having at points intermediate of their lengths deflected portions, the sides of which are at an angle of 45 degrees to the endportions of the plates, so that when the plates are placed together, face to face, the grooves or depressions in their inner faces resulting from said deflections will fall opposite each other and form a square socket, a rocker of square cross sectional shape occupying said socket, and spurs projecting from opposite corners of said rocker, said deflected porti ons having, in their advance inclined sides, slots occupied by said spurs the meeting surfaces of the several parts being secured together by solder.

CHARLES \V. KEB-STETER.

Witnesses:

ILMA Bon'r'ronnn, FRANCES HARTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D, C. 

